What I need is to take hand-drawn cartoons into vector files. I need to be able to trace the lines into vector paths, then smooth and stretch them. Once that’s done, I need to output as a file type that Illustrator can read. Is this all possible?
Plus, does it sound like I could get away with using X6 version?
Do you need to use Corel at all? Illustrator has trace functions - different versions seem to have different names, but I was able to take a .JPG and trace it to an .AI file with CS4 a while back.
Oddly enough, it was a graphic element I created in Corel Draw about 20 years ago and had incorporated into a .JPG file. It was not hard to select the graphic in the picture and bring it back to vector form.
I haven’t done much with CorelDraw, but the one time I tried it out (to test the vector functions), I had the problem that the curve adjustment nodes acted like they were a single pixel large about half the time. Any attempt to grab one was just as likely to entirely deselect that line, which meant having to select the line again, the node again, and then try to grab the adjuster yet again.
I don’t know Illustrator.
I don’t know about CorelDraw, but Inkscape will do what you’re looking for, and it’s free.
Thanks for the mention of Inkscape. I will try it. Concerning Illustrator, the entire point is to not have to spend the money for Illustrator, as it’s the most expensive option.
VectorMagic is by far the best at this (leaps and bounds better than Illustrator’s Live Trace):
Your first 2 conversions are free, and a conversion only counts once you’re satisfied with the trace and are ready to download.
From what I recall of Corel, it can convert pixelated images into vector, but not in the way you want.
Say you’re just converting an image of a circle with a red fill to vector. It won’t create a circle path and designate the fill as red. It will instead break the image into a bunch of horizontal line segments and make each a red stroke with no fill.
Like Mangetout said, use Inkscape.